Checking in from Hong Kong

Checking in from Hong Kong while I wait for the folks arranging for my visa to China for tomorrow's tour of that side of the border to get back with my passport (yes, I do feel slightly naked...). Weather sucks, but I do have a bunch of pictures that I mean to upload as soon as I get to a real net connection, this is via a flakey proxied one on a borrowed machine. If you know what I mean.

So far I'm less enthused with the city than I was last time, but that might be because it's the hot and rainy season, and because I'm staying down in Tsim Sha Tsui this time, which is closer to central Hong Kong, but the lack of tourism right now means that I'm a target for every hooker and con artist out there, and they frequent that area.

Last night I was shown around Mong Kok, I'd missed it last time, but it's like the Temple Street bazaar except not cleaned up for the tourists. This is where the pirated software, DVDs and music and video CDS with ink jet printed covers sell for less than what I thought the cost per page of an ink jet print go for.

And I got well and truly lost later wandering around east Tsim Sha Tsui down by the waterfront. Walked for many blocks down non-right angle streets in the general direction of where I thought my hotel was, ended up right back where I'd decided to head for home. Sigh.

When I was in China last, near the US Embassy in Beijing, I was offered 7 cd's with old favorites like WINDOWS 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Office Professional, Autodesk, etc. -- but they wanted $28 US and of course I rejected that offer as way too high (!) - after chasing me for three blocks we got down to $7 US for the lot, and made the deal. After slipping them through customs, I felt guilty, and maybe worried about viruses etc. -- I threw the whole thing away, and felt better - I really didn;t have time to deal with any damage or trojan that might be installed in my machine anyway.

I have grown to have a warm feeling for the culture of the Chinese. I have learned that for the most part they have rejected the nonsense of religion for several thousand years, and see things clearly in that regard - they have a certain joy of living - their phrase for 'hello' is 'nee hao' - literally 'you good?' - what can we say about a people that goes around asking each other all the time if each other is good? Wow what a great sense of life!

Contrast that with the idea of 'original sin' and so forth put forth by christian cultures and the difference becomes glaringly clear.

And in general the women appreciate men, and the difference between them and have no desire to overtake them or replace them - another nice thing we have lost.

Hopefully I will be back over there this year - I envy your good luck - are you going to ShenZhen?

Atleast while the tourism is down the hookers and con men will be offering bargain prices whilst they fleece you or give you some loathsome disease. I also find the existence of hookers interesting. They are obviously a holdover from the former running-dog regime. However, has capitalism spread to cover sex workers in the Peoples's Republic proper?

Also, speaking of non-breathing, there is an alternative. According to this fellow , a special necktie can be used to prevent exposure to SARS. You did bring a necktie, didn't you?

Ziffle, didn't get out of the official stuff while I was in China, but Hong Kong women certainly seem to appreciate bearded caucasians.

Jay, it was tough to breathe today up in Dong Guan.

Petronious, I think I'll have to duck up to Mong Kok right now to get me one. Semi-seriously, visitors at large fashion company you have heard of that we went to yesterday were asked to wear masks, so we did. Luckily for me, because I ended up cutting some holes in ceiling tile and got dust everywhere...

The gang stole mobile phones from pedestrians in the busy tourist areas
along Argyle Street, Fa Yuen Street, Tung Choi Street and Shan Tung
Street. Immediately after lifting a phone, the pickpockets would then
sell them to second-hand shops or street dealers. The youngest pickpocket
was a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl.